CAFOD official welcomes resignation of World Bank president

Published: 2007-05-22

LONDON (CNS) -- A British Catholic aid agency official has welcomed the resignation of World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz after a controversy over the promotion of his girlfriend. George Gelber, head of policy at the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, or CAFOD, said Wolfowitz's departure presented an opportunity to change the way that top appointments are made to the bank, which he described as a "creditors' cartel." CAFOD is the development and aid agency of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. "Paul Wolfowitz's tenure at the World Bank and the recent scandal raise questions as to whether he was the right man for the job of fighting poverty in developing countries," Gelber said in a May 18 statement. "It is remarkable that in the 21st century, these key appointments are made on the basis of nods and winks from the United States and Europe," he said, adding that the resignation is an opportunity for the position "to be replaced by a democratic and transparent leadership selection process based on merit."

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .